Hey guys, I'm so sorry that I took this long to update! I really want to update more than once a week, but life happens. I know all of us are just dying for Elena and Damon to get together already, but we have to wait a little longer (Trust me, it's killing me too!). Thanks for all the reviews and I hope you like the next chapter!

-TWG

After getting home last night I rushed up to my room. I really didn't feel like explaining my red and blotchy eyes to my aunt. Once I changed into a pair of blue shorts and a white tank top, I fell onto my bed, holding Damon's jacket close all night.

I walk into school rocking a short blue dress, black heels, and silver hoop earrings. My locket rests against my chest and a fake smile appears on my lips. No one would be able to tell that I was up all night crying.

"Hey Elena!"

I turn to see Caroline running towards me, wearing a floral skirt, ivory blouse, and a pair of to-die-for heels. Her grin spreads from one cheek to the other and her eyes are wide with excitement. I can almost hear the gossip already.

"Hey Care!" I call back.

"You are never going to guess what I heard last night!" She says with enthusiasm.

She pauses for dramatic effect.

"Well come on Caroline! Out with it!"

"Kai Parker is going to ask you out!"

I try to hide my disappointment. Sure, Kai is pretty hot and he's the second best player on the guy's soccer team, but he's not Damon.

"Elena hello!? Did you hear me!? THEE Kai Parker is going to ask you, Elena Gilbert, to go out with him this Friday night!"

I try to sound excited, "Really!? Who did you hear this from?"

"I heard it from Tyler and Tyler heard it directly from Kai in the locker room after practice yesterday!"

"Wow… I don't know what I am going to say."

"What do you mean you don't know what to say?! You are going to say yes!" Caroline shouts as she grabs onto my shoulders and shakes me. "Please don't reject one of the hottest guys in school Elena! You haven't had a serious boyfriend since… well ever! Every guy in this school wants to date you, but you don't give any of them a chance."

Not every guy. Not the one guy I want. Not Damon.

"Not every guy wants to go out with me Care." I chuckle shaking my head.

"Oh bull shit!" A shocked look spreads across her face after she swears at me.

We stare at each other for a brief moment before we erupt in laughter. My lunges feel as if they are on the verge of collapsing by the time I finally catch a breath. Caroline never swears.

"My my my Miss Caroline. You have quite the potty mouth young lady." I laugh.

"See! You and Bonnie ARE bad influences on me!" She tries to say seriously.

We walk to class still giggling at one another. My mind swirls with thoughts of Kai and of course Damon. Maybe Care is right. I have never given any other guy a chance. After thinking about it all throughout History class I made a decision. If Kai asks me out, I'm going to say yes.

Math and Chemistry go by at lightning speed. I'm sitting at my usual lunch table with my teammates and a few other girls from our class. We spend our lunch talking about the upcoming game, the homecoming dance, and mindless gossip. I find my eyes drifting towards Kai. He really is freakin hot. He laughs with his buddies and I catch a glimpse of his radiating smile. It's nothing like Damon's. Damon's smile is cocky and confident. Kai's is full of warmth.

After stealing quick glances at Kai throughout lunch, I am confident with my decision to say yes. Maybe Damon and I are really only meant to be friends. Besides, he has Katherine. I shouldn't be alone for the rest of my life waiting for him.

Locker doors are banging shut as everyone gets ready to leave for the day. I open my locker with ease, thanks to the note I wrote myself containing the combination. I start to load my bag up with books. Since we don't have practice on Tuesday nights, I have a lot of homework to catch up on. I close my locker and look up to find Kai walking straight towards me. My stomach turns to knots. This is it. My first step towards a new life. A life where I am not waiting for someone who is never going to love me back.

"Hey Elena." Kai says smoothly.

"Hi Kai." I smile at him.

"So you have probably heard that I want to ask you out huh?"

"Yeah… gotta love the high school gossip system right?" I laugh.

"Most definitely." He smiles.

There is a moment of silence between us.

"Well… I was wondering. Do you maybe wanna see a movie with me this Friday night?" He asks with far less confidence than normal.

Come on Elena, he obviously likes you. And look at him! He's got the boyish good looks that most girls die for! You need to do this for yourself. You need to take a leap.

Before I change my mind I respond, "I would love to go to the movies with you Kai."

A smile spreads across his face. Without any control, I feel a smile tug on my lips to. For a brief moment I am actually happy. I liked the idea of going out with Kai until a cough jerks me back to reality. I turn around to see Damon watching us. How long has he been standing there? Is that hurt in his eyes? What would he have to be upset about? He loves Katherine.

"Sorry to interrupt." Damon says coldly.

"No problem Damon. I'll see you later Elena." Kai says without so much as a glance towards Damon.

Kai walks out of the building, leaving me alone with a clearly upset Damon. I look up at him with confused eyes. He doesn't say anything. The silence drags on for far too long.

"Here, you forgot this last night." I say as I hand him his jacket out of my bag.

He takes the jacket from me without saying a word.

"Alright Damon, what's your problem?" I ask with a hint of anger.

He stares at me for a moment, as if trying to figure out what he wants to say.

"You're going out with Kai." He states

"Yes." I answer, even though it wasn't a question.

Damon nods his head and starts to turn around.

"Is there a problem with that Damon?"

He quickly turns back to face me. His emotions are unreadable.

"Yes, in fact there is a problem Elena."

"And what would that be?"

"Oh come on Elena you know exactly why I would be upset with it."

I honestly don't. Could this be Damon's way of telling me that he cares about me as more than a friend?

"I really don't Damon."

"Elena! How can you be so stupid! It is obvious!" He shouts.

I wince when he calls me stupid.

"You know that Kai has been after my spot as team captain ever since I got it!"

Oh… So that's why he's upset. If his feelings about me weren't confirmed before, they are now.

"Just because he wants to be team captain, doesn't mean I can't go out with him."

"I real friend wouldn't." He mumbles.

"Oh don't even go there Damon! You're one to talk!" I snap.

"And what's that supposed to mean Elena?" He snaps right back.

"Katherine of course!"

"She has nothing to do with this."

"Damon! She's the captain of my team's rival!"

"It's not the same thing Elena."

"It's the exact same thing and you know it."

Damon may think he's right, but I know that going out with Kai is not me being a bad friend.

"And you know what Damon? A true friend would want me to be happy. Even if that means me dating someone they don't like. Just like I have been putting up with Katherine for years. But don't worry. I won't talk about Kai nonstop to you."

I turn around and walk out of the school fuming. How dare he? How dare he call me stupid and a bad friend? I don't care what Damon says, this Friday I am going to the movies with Kai.